Volunteer Program Information

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Bellefonte Area School District. By sharing your time and talent you can enrich the learning experience for students and provide needed support to our teachers and staff.

Any volunteer who plans on working in the buildings during the school day, or volunteering at an after-hours school-sponsored (not PTO/Booster club sponsored) event will need to become a Registered Volunteer. This includes (but is not limited to): Field Trip chaperones, school dance chaperones, classroom/building helpers, volunteering at classroom parties, PTO/PTA/Parent Group events in the buildings during school hours, and helping at MS/HS Fine Arts Department activities that are not open to the public (helping at rehearsals, volunteering at Band Camp, participating in Drama Work-Calls, etc.).

The following are considered Visitors, not Volunteers, and do NOT need to turn in clearances: Guest speakers/presenters; those in the building solely to distribute fundraisers to parents; those coming in to help only their own child with a project or presentation; attendees at a teacher/school-invited event - such as Promotion ceremonies, art shows, concerts, science fairs, Halloween parade, Grandparent's Day/Veteran's Day/etc. activities. In addition, volunteers at PTO/PTA/Booster Club events and meetings that take place outside of the regular school day do not need to turn in clearances (ie. Carnivals, Sports Banquets, PTO-sponsored dances/movie nights/shows, etc.).

Registered Volunteers are approved by the Bellefonte School Board after submitting the following:

1) Volunteer Form,

2) Statement of Confidentiality,

3) Residency Affidavit & Arrest/Conviction Report,

4) PA Child Abuse History Certification,

5) PA Criminal History clearance,

If you have lived in PA less than 10 years, you will also need to submit an FBI clearance.

Results of a TB test are required for athletic volunteers.

See "What Forms Do I Need" at left.

Completed paperwork can be turned in to your child's school, or dropped off/mailed to Volunteer Coordinator, 318 North Allegheny St, Bellefonte, PA 16823.

For more information on how to get involved, contact your school office or our Volunteer Coordinator, Liz Stone at mailto:lstone@basd.net.

Prospective Volunteer Athletic Coaches:Besides completing all the volunteer paperwork found here, you will also need to contact the High School Athletic Department. There are additional forms and requirements for PIAA, and all athletic volunteers must be approved by one of the Athletic Directors.

Effective July 1, 2015: Per PA State Act 153, all registered volunteers will need to update their clearances every 5 years. If your current clearances are more than 5 years old at any point of the 2017-2018 school year (so dated prior to June 15, 2013), you will need to update your Police Record check and your Child Abuse clearance before you can be reapproved. In addition, if you have lived in Pennsylvania less than 10 years, you are required to submit an FBI clearance as well. If you already have a TB test on file with the District, it will NOT need to be updated.